News
Volunteer Spotlight
Liz Amiel, volunteer I found out about volunteering for Healthwatch Haringey from a friend who has been part of the volunteering force for a couple...
Seeking out ‘seldom heard’ voices on health and care services in Haringey
Healthwatch Haringey listens to the voices and experiences of all Haringey residents. We use what we hear to push for better local health and care...
Registering with your GP: Understanding your rights
People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the...
NHS ‘5 Year Plan’ outlines £8bn shortfall
A five-year plan for the NHS - unveiled by six national bodies - once again highlighted that an annual £30bn shortfall would open up by 2020. But the Chief Exec of NHS England, Simon Stevens, claimed this could be reduced to £8bn through a radical rethink of local services and a commitment to...
Care Quality Commission: 'Four in five NHS hospitals not safe'
Four out of five hospitals inspected by regulators are not safe, according to new annual ratings of NHS trusts which watchdogs have branded “shocking”. The report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the inspectorate for health and social care, details findings from the first year of a new style...
The health and social care complaints system must work for people
The health and social care complaints system doesn't work because it was never designed as a single system around the needs of people. Decades of piecemeal change has resulted in the current bewildering mess of over 70 different types of organisations involved in complaints handling. We need reform...
Survey shows greatest improvement in public attitudes to mental health in a decade
New data shows public attitudes towards mental illness have improved significantly with the biggest annual improvement in the last decade taking place in 2013. However, there is still more work to be done to end life-limiting stigma and discrimination. The National Attitudes to Mental Illness...
Haringey mental health awareness campaign launched
An art exhibition, football match, and bike ride are among the events taking place across Haringey next week, in a campaign designed to raise awareness and change attitudes towards mental health. The week-long series of activities will get underway on Monday 6 October with a cycle ride organised by...
Haringey GPs “struggling to meet overwhelming demand”
A report by Healthwatch Haringey raises serious concerns about the lack of GP services in the Tottenham Hale area and identifies a worrying borough wide GP access issue. The report, “GP Access in Tottenham Hale” , highlights a serious access and capacity issue relating to the four GP Practices...
NHS complaints data is just the 'tip of the iceberg'
This Health and Social Care Information Centre has published its official figures for the number of written complaints received by the NHS reporting a total of 174,872 for 2013/14. The figures show: Half a million incidents of poor care across NHS went unreported in last two years Two thirds of...
Find out more about Haringey CCG at their Public Meetings
Haringey Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is an NHS organisation, led by local GPs, and is responsible for planning and developing health services for Haringey residents. The CCG is holding two public meetings to give people an opportunity to hear about their work, ask questions and help them to...
Patient forum on cystic tumours of the pancreas
This half day event will give patients and the public the chance to learn more about cystic tumours of the pancreas and an opportunity to input into research. When: Friday, 03 October 2014 from 09:00 to 13:00 Where: The Atrium, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG To register and for...
CQC Inspects North Middlesex University Hospital
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has inspected North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust with mixed results. England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals has rated the services provided by North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust at North Middlesex University Hospital as 'Requires Improvement'...
Healthwatch Haringey Chair awarded OBE
The Queen’s Birthday Honours list has been published in recognition of the achievements and services of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom and Healthwatch Haringey Chair Sharon Grant has been awarded an OBE, in recognition of her service to the community. Sharon has lived in Haringey...
Mentoring programme for young men comes to Haringey
A Band of Brothers is a charity established by men committed to positive social change through personal development and community building. A programme recently launched at The Pavilion in Seven Sisters, a leisure and therapeutic centre for people with mental health or learning disabilities, sees...
Failing GP practices face closure
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) confirms that failing GP practices will face closure. The CQC has announced that the special measure regime currently being used for hospitals will be extended to GPs. It is first time there will have been a national failure regime for the GP profession. Following...
Are you trying to give up smoking?
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in Haringey. You can help to make the Stop Smoking service work better. Haringey Council currently commissions the Stop Smoking service in the borough, and they are about to retender the service. The council would like to hear from residents who...
Local Ophthalmology Review
Are you a Haringey resident who has had a cataract operation in the last three years ? If so we would like to hear from you. The service is being redesigned and we would like you to give us your views about your experiences. Please use the link below to take you to a brief multiple choice survey:...
Haringey Health Profile 2014
Public Health England has just published the 2014 Health Profile for Haringey. The profile contains a summary of information on the health of the people in Haringey and some factors that may influence their health.
Healthwatch Haringey Annual Report 2013-2014 published
Healthwatch Haringey's first annual report for the year 2013-2104 is published today.
North Middlesex Hospital Inspection - Care Quality Commission Listening Event
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will soon be carrying out an inspection at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. In advance of their inspection the CQC are holding a listening event to hear about people’s experiences of care at the hospital. The listening event will take place on Tuesday...
New nursing code: Patients asked to help shape draft
Patients and the public are being urged to have their say over what standards nurses and midwives should abide by. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is drafting a new version of its code, which sets out standards of conduct, performance and ethics. It will say patients should be treated with...
Have you recently called 999 for an ambulance?
The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) is running a project looking at changes in the use of ambulance services in England. By conducting a survey of people who have used ambulances they hope to get a better understanding of how the ambulance service is being used and will look at...
Free online mental health support for Haringey residents
Haringey residents going through a tough time or struggling with mental health issues can now get free online support. Big White Wall is free and available to all Haringey residents aged 16+. The service is designed to help people get support, take control and feel better. It provides 24/7 support...
Health and care complaints system is 'utterly bewildering' for people
The concerns of users and worried family members looking to complain about the service they have received from their local hospital, GP or care home, are going unheard because the current system is simply too complex. Work by Healthwatch England around the complaints system has shown there are 75...
NHS England launches consultation on changes to specialised services specifications
Consultation on changes to specialised services specifications NHS England has launched (26 Feb 2014) a three-month public consultation on changes made to a number of its specialised services specifications. Service specifications set out what is expected from providers and define access to a...
The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is recruiting consumer representatives
Do you want to get involved in helping to influence cancer research in the UK? The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is looking to recruit patients, carers and others affected by cancer to join the NCRI Clinical Studies Groups (CSGs), where new ideas for cancer research are developed. To...
Nearly a fifth confess to knowingly using A&E for non-emergencies
18 per cent of people admit to having knowingly used A&E for a non-emergency at some point in their lives, according to new survey findings by Healthwatch England. 1 in 4 respondents said it is likely they would resort to using A&E in the future if they were unable to get a GP appointment...